Birth Centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Mohammad Rayhan Uddin/Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
“As long as Padma, Meghna, Gouri, Jamuna flows on, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, your accomplishment will also live on.”
– Annada Shankar Ray, Poet and Essayist
“Sheikh Mujibur Rahman does not belong to Bangladesh alone. He is the harbinger of freedom for all Bengalis.”
– Mohamed Hassanein Heikal
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in Tungipara village on March 17th 1920. He was the third among four daughters and two sons of his parents – Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Saira Khatun.
From his days as a student, Rahman developed an interest in politics becoming an influential figure in the Muslim League, which advocated the creation of a separate Islamic state from India.
“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is an icon of democracy, a towering figure.”
–Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India
In the 1970 general elections in Pakistan, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won an overall majority, but the West Pakistani regime was reluctant to hand over power. The resulting power struggle led to Rahman declaring Bangladesh’s independence on March 26th 1971 and marked the start of the War of Independence. In November 1970, India entered the war, supporting East Pakistan. This led to victory for East Pakistan on December 16th 1970.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the first President of Bangladesh on April 11th 1971. He took the role of Prime Minister in January 1972. In January 1975, he initiated one-party socialist rule, becoming Bangladesh’s fourth President.
“The struggle now is the struggle for our emancipation;
The struggle now is the struggle for our independence.
Joy Bangla..”
Since we have given blood, we will give more blood.
God-willing, the people of this country will be liberated..
Turn every house into a fort.
Face (the enemy) with whatever you have.”
Following General Yahya Khan’s postponement of the National Assembly session on March 1, 1971, only two days before the session was due to take place, every section of the Bengalis instantaneously came out onto the streets in massive demonstrations. The Bengalis aspirations for freedom reached an indomitable height. From March 1 onward Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was virtually running East Pakistan as its de-facto head of government. On March 7, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech at the Race Course Maidan (Suhrawardy Udyan), considered to be his roadmap for the country’s independence. On the night of March 25, the Pakistan army launched its heinous nine-month long campaign of genocide against the unarmed Bengalis. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Independence of Bangladesh on March 26 at 12:20 AM. Right after declaration, at 1:30AM he was arrested and 3 days later was taken to a Pakistani prison. On April 10, the provisional revolutionary government of Bangladesh chose Mujib as its President. The revolutionary government took oath of office on April 17 at a famous mango garden (Amrakanan) of Baidyanathtala in Meherpur, which is now known as Mujibnagar. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected President, Syed Nazrul Islam acting president and Tajuddin Ahmed the Prime Minister. During August & September of 1971, the Pakistan Junta held a secret trial and sentenced Bangabandhu to death. On revelation, the freedom loving people of the world was enraged and demanded the security of the President of Bangladesh. On December 27, the Bangladesh government sought Mujib’s immediate and unconditional release.
The Government of Pakistan was forced to release Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under immense international pressure on January 8. On that very day, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman traveled to London on his way to Dhaka. There, at a crowded press conference in his hotel in London, he spoke to the world press and on January 9, met the British Prime Minister, Edward Heath. Prior to returning to Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stopped over at Delhi, where the Indian President V. V. Giri and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi welcomed him with grace. When the Father of the Nation reached Dhaka on January 10, millions of grateful citizens of the newest country in the world welcomed him with open arms. He went straight from the airport to the Race Course Maidan now renamed Suhrawardy Udyan, where he addressed the free people of his nation for the first time. On January 12, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took charge as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and embarked on the reconstruction of a war-ravaged country.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh, was assassinated by a handful of army renegades as part of a larger national and international political conspiracy hatched by anti-liberation forces in the pre-dawn hours of August 15. They murdered in cold blood every member of his family except his daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, who by fortune alone were abroad at that time. Bangladesh observes August 15 as the National Mourning Day and remembers the noblest and the greatest Bengali who ever lived, through his spirit, ideology, courage and love for the people of his nation.
“I’m broken by the news of Sheikh Mujib’s death. He was a great leader. His extraordinary heroism has been a source of inspiration for the people of Asia and Africa.”
– Indira Gandhi, Former Prime Minister of India
“I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have seen Sheikh Mujib. In personality and in courage, this man is the Himalayas.”
– Fidel Castro, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba
Bangladesh will celebrate the “Mujib Borsho” through various programmes marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The UNESCO made the decision at its 40th General Assembly held at the UN body’s headquarters in Paris. 195 countries across the world willl also celebrate the event. “The Father of the Nation repaid his debt with his life. We must now repay him,” the Hon’ble Prime Minister had said during the first announcement of this celebration in 2018.
Naming the years of 2020 and 2021 as Mujib Barsha or Mujib Year, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had pledged to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary with people from all echelons of society through yearlong programmes.